07042023 NEWS AND SPORT

CORNISH: I’M PM IN ABACO

MP says Davis is only other authority that leads the island

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

“ON Abaco, Kirk is the prime minister.”

That’s the comment of North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish, who asserted his authority during an independence banquet at Faith Walks Church of God in Cooper’s Town, Abaco, on Saturday.

Mr Cornish and several other Abaco residents were

honoured for their contributions to the island ahead of the 50th anniversary of independence.

Mr Cornish expressed gratitude but emphasised his status on the island.

“I did well throughout my life,” he said. “I failed in some areas, I’ll be the first to admit, but I am grateful for the fact that we thought it necessary this evening to say to Kirk Cornish, we

GAS RETAILERS ‘NOT GONE TO SLEEP’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN petroleum retailers yesterday said they “haven’t gone to sleep” over their push for a margin increase but are willing to take a “sensible” phasedin approach that will not overly burden motorists

BANNISTER BLAMES PLP NEGLECT FOR BPL WOES

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

and the wider economy.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association’s vice-president, said the sector and its issues “haven’t gone away” amid hopes the recent decline in global oil and fuel prices could prove a “win-win” for all parties.

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

HOURS before his body was found in bushes off Marshall Road, Garath Pyfrom, 29, hugged his sister, Monalisa Johnson, tighter than usual.

“He was just so happy and so loving,” she said, recalling when her brother

visited her before attending a party Sunday night. “He hugged me. He gave me this big hug, and I brushed him off. Then when I reached in my room, he hugged me again.”

Ms Johnson said she asked her brother why he was so happy and he replied: “I can’t just love you, Mona?” She told him she wouldn’t

go to a pool party he planned to attend.

“I told him it wasn’t sitting right with my spirit,” she said. “I said I didn’t want to go, let’s sit this one out, but he still gone.”

The next morning, Ms Johnson got an ominous call from her brother’s wife that he did not return home for the night.

FORMER Works Minister Desmond Bannister said the protocol for maintaining Bahamas Power & Light’s Wartsila engines changed under the Davis administration –– one reason why load shedding has been needed this summer. He accused the Davis administration of neglecting BPL through inadequate investments and poor maintenance practices.

MAN JAILED UNLAWFULLY FOR 8 YEARS DIES AGED 59

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Staff Reporter Ebowleg @

ATAIN Takitota, who was awarded more than $1m for being unlawfully detained in prison for eight years, the largest sum of its kind in The Bahamas, died last month at the Princess Margaret Hospital. His obituary in local newspapers said he died “peacefully” at 59. His case was often used as a benchmark for those seeking damages for poor treatment.

THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

AS the countdown to the 50th anniversary of Independence continues, a Jubilee celebration was held in Pompey Square last night, with music, dancing, food and more. On Friday, The Tribune will include its bumper Independence Supplement - be sure not to miss out.

Photos: Moise Amisial

Cornish: I’m PM in Abaco

recognise you, you are not moving through this place unnoticed even though you are the Member of Parliament for North Abaco, the parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

“For many, let me explain what that means. That means on Abaco, Kirk is the prime minister. The only authority other than Kirk who leads this island is Brave Phillip Edward Davis, so get used to it.” As some clapped and cheered, Mr Cornish said he refused to abuse his power and

take advantage of people because of his faith in God.

“I will remain humble. I will continue to seek to serve you to the best of my God-given ability,” he said.

Reflecting on the independence anniversary, Mr Cornish said the country has come far but that “evil was at our door,” referring to a video of a woman prophesying about a gay marriage club coming to The Bahamas.

means on Abaco, Kirk is the prime minister. The only authority other than Kirk who leads this island is Brave Phillip Edward Davis, so get used to it.’

“We are on a global world,” he said. “This 50th doesn’t only mean happiness. This means some decisions. Who you gone stand up for? Will you stand for God? I am prepared and ready to.”

Mr Cornish said people shouldn’t destroy one another.

“As a people, we are just, I mean, so ungrateful to God for what we have, and I didn’t mean to damper your evening this evening, but God placed it on me to remind us that the same son and daughter you’re destroying, he calls a son and daughter,” he said.

“The same forgiveness and mercy you does ask for, he asks you to give it, so as we celebrate our 50th, let us be mindful of each other and let us recognise that there’s no point in building this big

and beautiful Bahamas if we destroy each other.”

“You see, I have a Godgiven right to defend Kirk Daniel Cornish, Sr, but you know what Kirk does, he places that defence in the hands of God. Many people don’t know me, don’t understand that, but I guarantee you that God gon’ show it to them.”

Mr Cornish said a man’s character was the “total sum” of his experience, adding: “Over the years, I have learned to brush much off my shoulders so that could tell you to keep moving.”

BANNISTER BLAMES PLP NEGLECT FOR BPL WOES

from page one

He said: “I’ll give you an example –– there are new engines that were under contract for maintenance by Wartsila, which is the company that made them. It’s just like when you buy a new car, you buy a new car, and if you buy a Ford, you’re gonna take it to Ford to maintain.

“You’re gonna take it to Toyota because that’s your new car. You’re not gonna take it to a bush mechanic, but the government did not renew the Wartsila maintenance contract and what they did is they hired a whole bunch of independent contractors who had worked for Wartsila to maintain the engines and as a result, they’re not getting the results that they should get because they don’t have

the manufacturer of those engines in maintaining them.”

“We have third parties maintaining engines. That is wrong, and that is very, very disappointing so that’s the first challenge that they face, and that is something that is caused by them, a problem they created.”

In 2019, BPL acquired seven Wartsila engines to address long-term generation capacity issues, leading then chairman Dr Donovan Moxey to declare an end to the era of load shedding.

However, BPL CEO Shevonn Cambridge said last week that auxiliary systems were needed to support the effective use of the Wartsila engines. He said the auxiliaries need an upgrade.

“Just like everything else, you are about as strong as your weakest link and now the

plan is to try and upgrade the auxiliaries to support those engines,” he said.

However, Mr Bannister insisted the engines’ problems should not exist, saying they are among the most efficient in the world.

“The only shortcoming they have in relation to auxiliaries are created by BPL not doing their work, not doing what they should have done, not preparing properly,” he said, adding he understands two Wartsila engines were down recently.

“You know you gon’ have heavy loads,” said Mr Bannister, “so I don’t know why I hear the general manager speaking about maintenance in the summertime. That maintenance of those engines should have gone on during the winter. It should’ve been ready for summer, they haven’t done it properly.”

‘For many, let me explain what that means. That

KIRK CORNISH MP, above, and, right, speaking at the Faith Walks Church of God.

Man jailed unlawfully for eight years dies aged 59

from page one

Mr Takitota arrived in the country from Japan on August 1992 with permission to remain for a week.

That month, after losing all of his money and documentation, he was arrested on Paradise Island for vagrancy. He was detained at the Fox Hill prison until October 2000 without being charged or tried.

He eventually testified that he had been in a traffic accident a year before leaving Japan and suffered head injuries which continued to affect him.

The medical staff at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre concluded that he suffered from retrograde amnesia.

While in prison, he attempted suicide, first by going on a hunger strike in 1997, then by slashing his wrists twice on successive days in 1998. After he was treated at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, he was returned to prison.

The Privy Council later

described the conditions he endured as “simply appalling”.

“The plaintiff was made to sleep on a ‘filthy floor’ with a blanket,” the Privy Council wrote.

“Conditions were hot and steamy in the summer. There was a bad mosquito problem. The plaintiff testified that sometimes he was so hot that he had to put water on the floor and lay in it. There was no running water in the facility. The plaintiff was obliged to urinate and defecate in a bucket.”

“He said the stench was such that it made him vomit on countless occasions causing him to lose his appetite. There were four buckets of urine and faeces in an 18 by eight-foot room filled with twenty to thirty-five people at any given time.”

Once released, Mr Takitota successfully sued the government but was initially awarded only $1,000 for his unlawful detention.

The Court of Appeal raised his award to $500k. The Privy Council

NO LICENCE? T EN DON’T USE NATIONAL SYMBOLS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings @ tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe warned against the unsanctioned use of Bahamian national symbols yesterday as officials announced that people can now apply online for licences to use the symbols.

The Ministry of National Security announced that residents can apply for security firm licences and national symbol permits through the MyGateway portal.

Mr Munroe noted the consequences of failing to get a licence to use national symbols.

“This innovation will assist us with a more economic use of time, and we trust it will get you to get your licence printed and in your hand, in a much timelier manner than is currently possible,” he said.

“And so, innovations of this sort, saving resources, your resources, government’s resources. The fact that it makes the collection and the funds seamless is a by-product, and I say that earnestly because the fee for both services is not very large at all.”

People using national symbols on merchandise

connected to business or jobs must obtain a licence or written permission from the minister.

The licence to use national symbols can be approved after applying to the ministry and paying $20. The licence would be valid from January 1 to December 31 of each year, no matter when permission is obtained. The unsanctioned use of symbols could prompt a $250 fine or a six months prison sentence.

Mr Munroe said a “notorious producer and retailer” has failed to comply with the law, suggesting its goods could be seized. He did not reveal the retailer.

“We seek to guard against people wrongly holding themselves out as being the government, and then we will not tolerate disrespect of our flag commercially or our national symbols,” Mr Munroe said.

“And so, anyone who wishes to use it in a commercial sense in a manner that is disrespectful, we’ll find that that will not be approved.

“So, you cannot have anybody deprecating symbols and expect us to approve it. You cannot have anyone doing anything that you would regard as disrespectful to our symbols, and we approve it.”

determined in 2009 that this was insufficient, and ordered the Court of Appeal to increase the amount to reflect his eight years in prison and the suffering and damage that was caused.

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe.

Photo: Moise Amisial

ATAIN TAKITOKA, who was unlawfully jailed for eight years.

He hugged his sister - hours later he was shot dead

from page one

She hurried to the location of the party, unprepared for what she found: her brother’s body lying in the grass.

Friends and relatives described Mr Pyfrom yesterday as hardworking, loving and family-oriented, a father of one child with another child on the way. He was the owner of Customising Creations, a popular shoe business.

Hours before his body was found, police reported that two off-duty officers were shot at at the same location while attending the pool party. Both officers received gunshot injuries to their arms but were in stable condition.

Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson said investigators would speak to them to understand what happened.

“The area where his body was discovered, there’s no lighting in that area,” he said about the victim. “So, we believe people were unaware that he was actually a victim.”

He said the pool party had between 200 to 300 attendees.

Mr Pyfrom’s death is the 56th murder for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN UNION AND ANTIQUITIES CORP

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Public Services Union signed an industrial agreement with the Antiquities, Monuments & Museum Corporation (AMMC) yesterday.

Officials said AMMC employees could expect salary increases this month.

“Team AMMC has and deserves every effort that the board and the senior management can provide to ensure a healthy environment in which they can

develop and thrive,” said Rosel Moxey, chairwoman of the AMMC.

“There is no successful organisation that does not start with a happy and productive team. And today, we see the signing of this agreement as another step in that regard. It is also our pleasure to share that though the execution of this agreement is today, our staff has already been benefiting from the terms negotiated since July 1, 2022.”

BPSU president Kimsley Ferguson said AMMC workers had enjoyed salary increases since July 1, 2022.

Death Notice for Elizabeth Faye Charlow, 89

“This month, they’re going to experience additional increases,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said the agreement includes tremendous increases in per diem. “Noted are the transport allowances that would have been adjusted as well, which are all consistent with the public service,” he said. “So, we’re quite pleased with what has been put in place for the AMMC.”

Mr Ferguson said the agreement allows employees to receive increases of some kind every year.

The deal expires in 2025.

A resident of Woodland Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, died peacefully at home on Thursday, June 29th, 2023.

Funeral Service is scheduled for Thursday, July 6th, 2023, 4:00 pm. at Ebenezer Methodist Church, Shirley Street. Officiating will be Rev. Milton Lightbourne.

THE SIGNING of the agreement between the Bahamas Public Services Union and the Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation yesterday.

Photo: Moise Amisial

GARATH Pyfrom and his wife Richee.

GARATH

Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.

The Tribune Limited

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Deep sea mining permits; should we be concerned?

The International Seabed Authority — the United Nations body that regulates the world’s ocean floor — is preparing to resume negotiations that could open the international seabed for mining, including for materials critical for the green energy transition.

Years long negotiations are reaching a critical point where the authority will soon need to begin accepting mining permit applications, adding to worries over the potential impacts on sparsely researched marine ecosystems and habitats of the deep sea.

Here’s a look at what deep sea mining is, why some companies and countries are applying for permits to carry it out and why environmental activists are raising concerns.

Deep sea mining involves removing mineral deposits and metals from the ocean’s seabed. There are three types of such mining: taking deposit-rich polymetallic nodules off the ocean floor, mining massive seafloor sulphide deposits and stripping cobalt crusts from rock.

These nodules, deposits and crusts contain materials, such as nickel, rare earths, cobalt and more, that are needed for batteries and other materials used in tapping renewable energy and also for everyday technology like cellphones and computers.

Engineering and technology used for deep sea mining are still evolving. Some companies are looking to vacuum materials from seafloor using massive pumps. Others are developing artificial intelligence-based technology that would teach deep sea robots how to pluck nodules from the floor. Some are looking to use advanced machines that could mine materials off side of huge underwater mountains and volcanoes.

Companies and governments view these as strategically important resources that will be needed as onshore reserves are depleted and demand continues to rise.

Countries manage their own maritime territory and exclusive economic zones, while the high seas and the international ocean floor are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. It is considered to apply to states regardless of whether or not they have signed or ratified it. Under the treaty, the seabed and its mineral resources are considered the “common heritage of mankind” that must be managed in a way that protects the interests of humanity through the sharing of economic benefits, support for marine scientific research, and protecting marine environments.

Mining companies interested in deep sea exploitation are partnering with countries to help them get exploration licenses.

More than 30 exploration licenses have been issued so far, with activity mostly focused in an area called the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone,

which spans 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers) between Hawaii and Mexico.

A clause of the U.N. treaty requires the ISA to complete regulations governing deep sea exploitation by July 2023.

Countries and private companies can start applying for provisional licenses if the U.N. body fails to approve a set of rules and regulations by July 9. Experts say its unlike it will since the process will likely take several years.

Only a small part of the deep seabed has been explored and conservationists worry that ecosystems will be damaged by mining, especially without any environmental protocols.

Damage from mining can include noise, vibration and light pollution, as well as possible leaks and spills of fuels and other chemicals used in the mining process.

Sediment plumes from the some mining processes are a major concern. Once valuable materials are taken extracted, slurry sediment plumes are sometimes pumped back into the sea. That can harm filter feeding species like corals and sponges, and could smother or otherwise interfere with some creatures.

The full extent of implications for deep sea ecosystems is unclear, but scientists have warned that biodiversity loss is inevitable and potentially irreversible.

“We’re constantly finding new stuff and it’s a little bit premature to start mining the deep sea when we don’t really understand the biology, the environments, the ecosystems or anything else,” said Christopher Kelley, a biologist with research expertise in deep sea ecology.

The ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission, which oversees the development of deep sea mining regulations, will meet in early July to discuss the yetto-be mining code draft.

The earliest that mining under ISA regulations could begin is in late 2024 or 2025. Applications for mining must be considered and environmental impact assessments need to be carried out.

In the meantime, some companies — such as Google, Samsung, BMW and others — have backed the World Wildlife Fund’s call to pledge to avoid using minerals that have been mined from the planet’s oceans. More than a dozen countries—including France, Germany and several Pacific Island nations— have officially called for a ban, pause or moratorium on deep sea mining at least until environmental safeguards are in place, although it’s unclear how many other countries support such mining. Other countries, such as Norway, are proposing opening their waters to mining.

By VICTORIA MILKO Associated Press

Question for Simon Wilson

EDITOR, The Tribune.

If I might ask our Financial Secretary, Mr Simon Wilson, a serious financial question. Mr Wilson, please tell the driving public what is done with all the money gleaned from vehicle and driver licenses, because almost every road

Govt needs to show integrity

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Truth is knowledge, which is the reflection of what things are. Truth is not judgmental, but factual. Integrity is telling yourself the truth and then honesty is telling the truth to other people.

This present administration seems to lack a relationship with the truth and we see too often the twisted web of lies they continue to weave. It seems as if the Prime Minister does not have control over his ministers and they are free to do as they please, even if it is unorthodox, and then the mess is cleaned up with a barrage of untruths and confusion.

Minister Bell said that Cabinet approved his actions of giving the citizenship at a funeral service. This statement is interpreted as his actions were sanctioned/approved by Cabinet et al. Now the Assistant Press Officer out of the OPM says that while Minister Bell has broken no law, he must not do it again. I say to you, Bahamians, if Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, approved it why chastise Bell and tell him not to do it again? This is a form of admission that interprets as “well you did it and you shouldn’t have done it, and you got caught so don’t do it anymore”. It says we did not know about it, but we have your back.

Please stop this see-saw

back and forth of insulting the Bahamian people’s intelligence. Minister Bell must take responsibility for his actions and the Prime Minister must show that he has control of his Ministers. Keith Bell appears to have shown abuse of power and discretion by his actions and has allegedly done this several times before at various other venues. Citizenship in any country is a sacred act and should not be handed out as a reward or promise. It must and should be earned and the recipient must not only swear allegiance, but should be able to speak the language and know the country’s history among other requirements. How many signed Certificates of Citizenship documents are in Mr Bell’s possession? We, the Bahamian people, demand to know. Integrity, transparency and accountability should always be the order of the day. Are we once again to be known as “A Nation for Sale”? Mr Prime Minister, please do the right thing. I implore you to not allow this blatant and unorthodox act to become a nail in your political coffin.

“Lift Up your Head to the Rising Sun”.

It is noted that Shane Gibson bragged that he

also carried out this unorthodox act and so had no problem with what Bell did. Lest Mr Gibson forget that it was an unorthodox act that led to the scandal that forced his resignation as minister. Does he hope that his political colleague will receive the same fate and is therefore reminding the public of his own breach, or is he just so confident that under the leadership of this administration there is no punishment or recourse for wrongdoings or broken laws? I do believe the latter as we are seeing so many actions by Cabinet Ministers swept under the rug or thrown to the wind.

“See how the World, marks the manner of our bearing”. We must as a nation, as a people, stand with our heads held high as we stand on integrity and truth. We must unite as a people and hold our leaders accountable for the privilege we bestow on them by electing them to power, and we must hold them accountable when they breach that trust we have in them. We must not let them forget that they are not above the law.

Let us continue to “March on to Glory, our bright banners waving high.” May God continue to bless our Bahamaland.

VANESSA A SCOTT JP Nassau, July 3, 2023

Will there be royalty or any VIP?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

in New Providence is virtually impassable because of unattended potholes and craters and I have just seen a photo on social media by Old Fort Bay where there is now a three foot deep pothole filled with water making it invisible to the driving public. People in

the east are naming the potholes now for the New Day Cabinet. Davis Harbour, Munroe Gorge, Pinder Chasm, Sears Gully, Bell End, Mitchell Dive, Sweeting On Sea.

MONKEEDOO Nassau, July 3, 2023.

So now nine plus days to the 10th and public doesn’t know if any Royalty will represent the new King - as King of the Bahamas — are there any VIPs coming?

How many CARICOM PMs coming (note Jamaica’s recent celebration few attended).

What’s suddenly this fuss over Bermuda? Have to suspect 50th Secretariat paying for that...a few days visit everything on

Facebook. Thank goodness Bermuda paid for some receptions and the Bahamian Bermuda connection probably for one reception, but why Bermuda?

Saw the

quoise! Forget the car flags dem dark blue …enormous flag hangs down at Central Bank - dey got it wrong also. Happy 50th fellow Bahamians …enjoy...dis only comes once!

JUDY MURPHY Nassau, July 2, 2023.

THE SUN rises over fishing boats in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 8, 2022, off of Kennebunkport, Maine. The United Nations body that regulates the world’s ocean floor is preparing to resume negotiations in July 2023, that could open the international seabed for mining, including for materials vital for the green energy transition.

Photo: Robert F. Bukaty/AP

Road to 50 celebrates with a float parade

BASEBALL BAT MURDER SUSPECT FACES COURT

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were charged with murder yesterday, including a man accused of killing an elderly man with a baseball bat last month in Malcolm Allotment East.

Reginal Chase, 36, was charged with murder before Magistrate Kendra Kelly.

Chase is accused of hitting Michael Pratt with a baseball bat on the back of

his head after getting into an argument on June 3. Mr Pratt, 65, died from blunt force head trauma.

The accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS). His case will be moved to the Supreme Court through a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI) set for service on October 6.

An 18-year-old was also sent to prison after being accused of a fatal shooting

in the Cowpen Road area last month.

Julian Geo Seide was charged with murder before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain.

Seide allegedly shot and killed Haitian national Viguens Guillet on June 17. Police discovered the body of the 27-year-old victim in his apartment with apparent gunshot injuries. Seide was remanded to BDCS and informed that his VBI is set for service on August 1.

BAIL GRANTED FOR MAN ACCUSED OF THROWING LOADED GUN AWAY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on crutches was granted $10,000 bail after he was accused of throwing a loaded gun away in a bag last week.

Leonard Symonette, 28, was charged with possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition before Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr. Symonette was arrested on Peter Street after

police allegedly saw him acting suspiciously on June 29. Authorities reportedly found a black Glock 9mm pistol with the serial number defaced, along with 13 unfired rounds of 9mm ammunition in a bag the suspect was seen throwing.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the prosecution objected to bail, citing concerns for Symonette’s safety and his firearm conviction in 2019, the defendant begged the court for mercy.

He said he requires treatment for gunshot injuries he received to his foot. He also claimed he would be targeted in prison due to his injury.

The magistrate granted him bail, mandating that he sign in at the Quakoo Street Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. The accused is also expected to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device.

Symonette’s trial is set for September 7-8.

BOYS ACCUSED OF ARMED ROBBERY

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO teen boys were remanded to prison after being accused of an armed robbery in Gladstone Road last week. Anthon Elliot, 19, and Reuben Martin, 18, were

charged with armed robbery before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain. Martin faced an additional charge for receiving.

The accused allegedly robbed Antonio Green at knifepoint, stealing $150 worth of jewellery while walking on Gladstone Road on June 27. Later that day,

Martin was arrested after he was found with stolen jewellery.

The accused were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Their case will be transferred to the Supreme Court by Voluntary Bill of Indictment on August 1.

‘tried to rape girl on her way to school’

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN is behind bars, accused of attempting to sexually assault a teenaged girl on Soldier Road as she was on her way to school in

February.

Pedro Thompson, 23, was charged with attempted rape.

Thompson allegedly attempted to rape a high school girl while walking in the Soldier Road area on the morning of February 17.

The accused was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Thompson’s case will be moved to the Supreme Court through a Voluntary Bill of Indictment due for service on November 22.

man

VEHICLES decorated for an Independence Day float parade lined up to display their pride on a route through the city of Nassau as events continue in the lead up to the country’s 50th Independence celebration.

Photos: Austin Fernander

NATO READIES MILITARY PLANS TO DEFEND AGAINST BRUISED BUT UNBOWED RUSSIA

By LORNE COOK

Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) —

Russia’s armed forces are bruised but by no means beaten in the war in Ukraine, a top NATO military officer said Monday, as he laid out the biggest revamp to the organisation’s military plans since the Cold War should Moscow dare to widen the conflict.

“They might not be 11 feet tall, but they are certainly not 2 feet tall,” the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, told reporters. “So, we should never underestimate the Russians and their ability to bounce back.”

U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts are set to endorse a major shakeup of the alliance’s planning system at a summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius next week.

NATO, as an organisation, does not provide weapons or ammunition to Ukraine. It’s sought to avoid being dragged into a wider war with nucleararmed Russia. At the same time, it is massively reinforcing the security of member countries near Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Around 40,000 troops are on standby from Estonia in the north down to Romania on the Black Sea. About 100 aircraft take to the skies in that territory each day, and a total of 27 warships are operating in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas.

Those numbers are set to rise.

Under its new plans, NATO aims to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days. The plans divide its territory into three zones – the high north and Atlantic area, a zone north of the Alps, and another in southern Europe.

Bauer said that NATO’s new planning is based on the strength of the Russian army before President Vladimir Putin launched the war on Ukraine almost 17 months ago. He said the war has depleted Russia’s army, but not its navy or air force.

Of Russia’s ground forces, around “94% is now engaged in the war in Ukraine,” Bauer said.

“What we see in general is that the Russians are careful around NATO. They are not for seeking a conflict with NATO. I think that is a sign that they are very, very busy,” he said. “In the land domain, I don’t think they have a lot of forces available to do anything to anyone else.”

“But we are convinced that the Russians are going to reconstitute,” he said. “We will continue to look at them as a serious threat, in the maritime, and in the air especially, and in space, they are still very, very, capable, let alone of course in nuclear.”

A revolt by Wagner mercenaries in Russia late last month raised deep security concerns in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland after a deal was reached for their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to be allowed to take refuge in Belarus.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that neighboring countries would face a heightened danger if the Wagner Group deploys its “serial killers” just over their border.

Vilnius lies around 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the Belarus border.

Lithuania wants to have a permanent NATO presence on its territory. Germany signalled last week that it would be prepared to base soldiers there if requested. For the moment, though, NATO sees no imminent threat coming from Belarus.

ISRAEL LAUNCHES MOST INTENSE MILITARY OPERATION IN WEST BANK IN YEARS; AT LEAST EIGHT PALESTINIANS DEAD

By NASSER NASSER and JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press

JENIN, West Bank (AP) —

Israel on Monday launched its most intense military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades, carrying out a series of drone strikes and sending hundreds of troops on an open-ended mission into a militant stronghold. At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded.

The crackdown was reminiscent of Israeli military tactics during the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s and came at a time of growing domestic pressure for a tough response to recent attacks on Israeli settlers, including a shooting last month that killed four Israelis.

The operation took place in the Jenin refugee camp — an area in the northern West Bank that has long been known as a bastion of militants. The fighting, which began shortly after midnight, continued past nightfall.

Throughout the day, black smoke rose from the crowded streets of the camp, a densely populated neighbourhood that is home to some 14,000 people, while exchanges of fire rang out and drones could be heard buzzing overhead. Military bulldozers plowed through narrow streets, damaging buildings as they cleared the way for Israeli forces.

“There are bulldozers destroying the streets, snipers are inside and on roofs of houses, drones are hitting houses and Palestinians are killed in the streets,” said Jamal Huweil, a political activist in the camp, predicting the operation would fail.

The military blocked traffic in and out of Jenin, and the city resembled a ghost town. Streets were empty as armored Israeli vehicles patrolled. Piles of burning tires and garbage containers littered traffic circles. Power and water supplies were knocked out in the camp.

Palestinian youths occasionally threw stones at army vehicles before darting away.

With the sound of shooting and explosions in the background, at least 10 ambulances rushed to the overwhelmed local hospital as relatives checked to see if loved ones were inside. One ambulance arrived with a bullet hole in front.

The Palestinians and three Arab countries with normalised ties with Israel – Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates – condemned the incursion, as did the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Late Monday, the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank held an emergency meeting and said it was halting its already limited contacts with Israel. Leaders said a freeze on security coordination would remain in place, and they vowed to step up activity against Israel in the United Nations and international bodies. They also planned to minimise contacts with the United States.

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was unswayed.

“In recent months, Jenin has turned into a safe haven for terrorism. We are putting an end to this,” he said. He said the troops were destroying militant command centers and confiscating weapons supplies and factories. He claimed the operation was

taking place with “minimum harm to civilians.”

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, said there were a total of about 10 airstrikes — most of them aimed at keeping gunmen away from ground troops. He accused militants of operating next to a United Nations building and storing weapons inside of a mosque.

He said Israel launched the operation because some 50 attacks over the past year had emanated from Jenin.

Neither the prime minister nor Hagari gave any indication when the operation would end.

U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland warned that the escalation in the West Bank was “very dangerous.” Asked about the Israeli drone attacks on residential areas, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said: “Attacks on heavily populated areas are violations of international humanitarian law.”

Lynn Hastings, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in the Palestinian areas, said on Twitter that she was “alarmed by scale of Israeli forces operation” and noted the airstrikes in a densely populated refugee camp. She said the U.N. was mobilising humanitarian aid.

UNRWA, the U.N. agency

for Palestinian refugees, said many camp residents were in need of food, drinking water and milk powder.

Late Monday, hundreds of Palestinians left the camp to flee the fighting. The Israeli army said it was allowing people who wanted to leave to do so. The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service said as many as 3,000 people had left by midnight, and they expected the exodus to continue.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight Palestinians were killed and 50 people were wounded — 10 critically. The dead were identified as young men and Palestinian youths, including a 16-year-old boy and two 17-year-olds.

Separately, a 21-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire near the West Bank city of Ramallah, the ministry said. The Jenin camp and an adjacent town of the same name have been a flashpoint since Israeli-Palestinian violence began escalating in spring 2022.

Israel says it has stepped up activity because the Palestinian Authority is too weak to maintain quiet. It also accuses its archenemy Iran of funding militant groups involved in

the fighting.

Palestinians reject such claims, saying the violence is a natural response to 56 years of occupation, including steppedup settlement construction by Israel’s government and increased violence by Jewish settlers.

Jenin was a major friction point in the last Palestinian uprising.

In 2002, days after a Palestinian suicide bombing during a large Passover gathering killed 30 people, Israeli troops launched a massive operation in the camp.

For eight days and nights, they fought militants street by street, using armored bulldozers to destroy rows of homes, many of which had been booby-trapped.

Monday’s raid came two weeks after another violent confrontation in Jenin that included the shooting death of a 15-year-old girl and after the military said a pair of rockets were fired from the area last week.

But there also may have been political considerations at play.

Leading members of Netanyahu’s far-right government, which is dominated by West Bank settlers and their supporters, have called for a broader military response to

the ongoing violence in the area, particularly after the June 20 shooting that killed four people in the Jewish settlement of Eli.

“Proud of our heroes on all fronts and this morning especially of our soldiers operating in Jenin,” tweeted National Security Minister Itamar BenGvir, an ultranationalist who recently called for Israel to kill thousands of militants if necessary.

“Praying for their success.”

Israeli military experts said they expected the operation to wrap up within a day or two. Prolonged violence and heavy casualties would risk attracting increased international criticism and drawing militants from the Gaza Strip or even Lebanon into the fighting.

Islamic Jihad, a militant group with a large presence in Jenin, threatened to launch attacks from its Gaza Strip stronghold if the fighting dragged on. Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group also made threats, saying the Palestinians have “many alternatives and means that will make the enemy regret its acts.”

Hezbollah fought a monthlong war against Israel in 2006.

More than 130 Palestinians have been killed this year in the West Bank, part of more than a yearlong spike in violence that has seen some of the worst bloodshed in the area in nearly two decades.

Israel says the raids are meant to beat back militants.

The Palestinians say such violence is inevitable in the absence of any political process with Israel and increased West Bank settlement construction and violence by extremist settlers.

Israel says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions and people uninvolved in confrontations have also died.

Israel captured the West Bank,

east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state.

SMOKE rises during an Israeli military raid of the militant stronghold of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, Monday. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

RESIDENTS of the Jenin refugee camp evacuate their homes as the Israeli military pressed ahead with an operation in the area. The army said it coordinated safe passage for people who wanted to flee the fighting, in Jenin, West Bank Monday. Israel launched the open-ended incursion in the militant stronghold on Monday. At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded.

(AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

A CONVOY of army vehicles is seen during an Israeli military raid on the militant stronghold of the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, Monday. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

From Bermuda to The Bahamas, with love

“Forward, Upward, Onward,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell at an event in Bermuda honouring Bahamian Independence over the weekend.

When he said, “Together!” the entire crowd joined in with a jubilant spirit. The motto of the Bahamas Coat of Arms transcends this country and can literally be utilised universally as a rallying call for humanity.

When we, as a people, show that we have what it takes to move with unity of spirit and advance our country to higher heights, we show the whole world that it is possible. Sometimes we underestimate ourselves and our country. We underestimate the role we play on the world stage. If people of the world were not watching us, then why would tens of millions come to our shores each year?

They are coming for more than our glorious sun, our alluring sand and our absolutely breathtaking sea. They are coming for the people. Bahamian hospitality has wowed many. All it takes now, is to have that hospitality on deck for each other.

Charity begins at home.

Bahamians have a habit of being the most critical people. That’s not a bad thing. The things that are pointed out because they could be done better, because they should be done correctly are good things. But here’s the kicker. Who are the complaints going to? We are one people. So very often, the criticism I hear comes from those with the mindset that they aren’t a part of it. From the decisions of the government, to the conducting of Junkanoo, and everything in between, Bahamians will complain about how it’s being done; but not enough are doing anything about it.

Bahamian entertainer

Dr Off said it best: “Get involved, Get involved!”

If every Bahamian takes a personal responsibility to change a complaint about their country into affirmative action for their country, it would be enough to massively fulfill the motto born illustriously on our Coat of Arms.

Mr Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service, gave this rallying call in Bermuda this weekend, where a Gala Ball was held to honour Bahamians living in that country. Our very own Phyllis Garraway, founder of Yodephy Dance and Modelling Academy, was invited to host the ball. She did a fantastic job of representing The Bahamas and she helped to fuel the spirit of love, togetherness and regional bonding the Bermudians had hoped for.

The event was held in honour of the 50th Independence Anniversary of The Bahamas, and was one of several events held for a weekend of festivities. The camaraderie between The Bahamas and Bermuda was on full display - and it’s a keen reminder of the fact that while we as a country are celebrating, we are not the only ones excited. The whole world is excited for us, and dozens of countries with full delegations are prepared to descend on Clifford Park with us to celebrate our country’s birthday.

More than any other time in history, now is the time for Bahamians to unite, leaning on the things we have in common in order to write new pages in history. The Road to 50 is almost at its destination - July 10, 2023the Golden Jubilee.

It’s a great time to put away the excuses that divide us, and come together for the sake of ourselves and our children. This little country has proven itself a world leader. We have seen such evidence as Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis took to the world stage to agitate for not just The Bahamas, but all Small Island Developing States and their needs. Let us take this lead and run with it.

We know of countries where crime rates are actually very low. We know of places where technology has led to advancement. We know that good infrastructure has

changed many countries. We see that sustainable farming has led to healthier people with a better ability to feed themselves. We have many great examples to glean from. The starting point, however, is to value our country and who we are as a people.

When Mr Mitchell addressed the ball, he did a great job of showing just who we are. He let them know that we as Bahamians, consider Bermudians family, and old friends.

That’s important, because without appreciating and recognizing the support of our neighbouring countries, we cannot make the progress we want internationally. Charity starts at home, then should spread to the neighbours before we even leave the community. That goes for the country, and that goes for each and every one of us in our personal homes. It is all too common today that we rarely talk to the people who live in the home right next door.

TOP LEFT: Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service Fred Mitchell addressing a gala ball in honour of The Bahamas’ 50th Independence Anniversary in Bermuda.

TOP RIGHT: A weekend of festivities in Bermuda to celebrate The Bahamas 50th Independence Anniversary included a church service. Honourees for the events were Dr Bert McPhee; Wilamena ‘Bucky’ Smith, and Lenora Carey.

LEFT

“Our ties are so close, and we are always in each other’s backyards,” Mr Mitchell told Bermudians.

“I really have a sense of pride about our country and the respect which you hold for the Bahamas. On behalf of our Prime Minister, I would like to express our deep thanks (for hosting this gala ball).”

The history of The Bahamas and Bermuda goes at least as far back as 1648.

Captain William Sayle and a group of Puritans and religious independents were fed up with being discriminated against in Bermuda, an English colony. They sailed from Bermuda in search of new land where they could settle and worship God freely.

While on the journey, a terrible storm, by all accounts it was likely a hurricane, arrived and hampered their quest. This resulted in a shipwreck, and Captain Sayle and his passengers found themselves fighting for their lives. The good thing was, that land was actually in sight. They swam ashore and ended up at a cave. This cave was huge, and all of the people were able to gather there and take shelter. The cave protected them until the storm passed over. Naturally, this cave also had collected fresh water they could drink.

What more could they ask for than shelter and water?

The abundant seas of The Bahamas would undoubtedly provide them with food. This, according to the Puritans, could be nothing but the hand of God, blessing them on their quest, saving their lives and giving them a land of religious freedom.

Hence, “Eleuthera - the land of Freedom” was born and by extension, the entire Bahamas was born.

They would represent the first settlers in The Bahamas since the tragic time when the Lucayans were wiped out by Christopher Columbus and his explorers. That cave became sacred ground and even today, people flock to Preacher’s Cave - the cave where many a riveting sermon was held - still attracts visitors and remains a symbol of freedom and safety.

Indeed, this is what The Bahamas as a whole represents. Some of the Seminoles of Florida, native Americans, were able to escape the treachery of colonialists and find peace on the western side of Andros. They lived in this area, rich in food like crabs, wild hogs, birds and marine life for a century before they even ventured out. Eventually, as time went on, they interbred with the Africans who came to The Bahamas. For this reason, Seminole blood runs through the veins of many Bahamians - much more than is properly accounted for, as they migrated from Andros all throughout The Bahamas. Many of the Africans came here as free, rich men - never

bonded by slavery. Others arrived by ship or from the plantations in the Carolinas, USA. When The Bahamas became a colony of England, King Charles II granted this archipelago to the Lords of the Carolinas. The Lords brought their slaves along with them. They were used to living an island life as the Carolina coast is littered with beautiful islands. They were blown away by the beauty of The Bahamas, and they felt right at home.

The Africans that arrived on slave ships to the Carolinas were of royal bloodlines from places like Angola, Benin and Ghana, and their rich culture and history perseveres not only in the Carolinas and all along the Eastern coast of the USA today, but also in The Bahamas, where many of them came.

That is why when Bahamians meet the Gullah Geechie people of the Carolinas, they are blown away. Mannerisms, accents food and culture are so close and in some cases - exact.

Knowing the history of our country, Mr Mitchell says, is vital as we move forward. He noted that The Bahamas experienced a great loss this weekend when Dr Gail Saunders, the nation’s first archivist passed away, marking the end of a chapter in our history.

“The foundation of a country is strengthened by its history,” he said.

“Our knowledge of ourselves gives us great confidence in who we are.”

He pointed out that the delegation that travelled with him to Bermuda were all born after 1973.

“I became Bahamian by an act of law; but they are Bahamian by birth, and I am proud of them.”

Looking back in history, Mr Mitchell spoke of a system of social apartheid that existed in The Bahamas prior to 1967, the time of Majority Rule. Bahamians were able to trample this system, and in 1973, gain independence. But Bahamians were also instrumental in this fight for equal rights and justice all over the world. One example is James Weldon Johnson. He was the grandson of Bahamian pioneer in education Stephen Dillet. Johnson wrote “Lift Every Voice and Sing” - the song known as the Negro National Anthem, and a rallying song for liberation and affirmation.

The father of Pan Africanism, WEB DuBois, is of Bahamian heritage, as his grandfather, Alexander DuBois, hailed from Long Cay, Bahamas. The father of African liberation, prophet Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who rallied millions of black people all over the world, was mentored by Dr Robert Love. Garvey, a Jamaican, was inspired by a Bahamian. Caribbean people have related to one another and

inspired one another for ages. Bermudian and Bahamian history also intertwine when it comes to the Turks and Caicos Islands. In the late 1860s when Turks and Caicos was a part of The Bahamas, their representative in the House of Assembly was a native of Bermuda. He was in the salt business. When he wanted to come to Nassau for Parliament, he had to take the two week trip to reach there.

Eventually, The Bahamas government decided to impose taxes on the important commodity, and this did not sit well with the MP. He

ABOVE LEFT: Phyllis Garraway poses with Wilamena ‘Bucky’ Smith, a Bahamian and long time Bermuda resident honoured this weekend.

ABOVE CENTRE: Minister Fred Mitchell and Phyllis Garraway represented the country as love was shared from Bermuda to The Bahamas.

ABOVE RIGHT: Minister Fred Mitchell with Minister Walter Roban, Bermuda’s Minister of Home Affairs.

eventually rallied to England for Turks and Caicos to become a separate territory, and was being governed from Jamaica. This was granted and remained this way until 1962.

From 1962, Turks and Caicos was governed by The Bahamas until it became an independent nation in 1973.

Here we are, 50 years later, with a wealth of history and lessons to learn from.

Mr Mitchell pointed out that in 1973, the question was if the Bahamian people could really govern themselves.

His reply: “We have done it and done it well”.

Let us take the mantle and

move forward to the kind of progress that will bring about economic independence for our country.

Let us move upwardaway from the social ills that mar the island of New Providence by remembering who we are and where we came from. Let us move onward - past the time of social and racial prejudice, uniting and finding common ground as human beings, regardless of race, class and creed. And let us move together towards the common loftier goal of a stable country - one with the potential to shine a bright light in the world.

to right: Phyllis Garraway, host of the Bahamas’ 50th Independence Anniversary in Bermuda; Premier of Bermuda David Burt; Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell; leader of the Opposition NH Cole Simons; and Simone Smith-Bean, Bahamian Bermudian Committee.

RF Bank & Trust announces its sponsorship of Bahamas Games golf tournament

RF Bank & Trust, a leading regional investment bank, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Bahamas Games golf tournament as part of the nation’s 50th Independence celebrations.

The tournament, organised by the Bahamas Golf Federation, will be held at the prestigious Ocean Club golf course from July 11 to July 14.

RF Bank’s support reflects its commitment to showcasing the worldclass talent of golf in The Bahamas.

The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games aims to highlight the exceptional talent that exists in The Bahamas and honour the nation’s rich history.

The tournament will feature teams from various islands competing in different categories, including men, women, junior boys and junior girls.

A total of nine teams, comprising 36 players and 13 coaches, will vie for the coveted gold medal.

The participating teams and islands include Abaco Survivors, Andros RF Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Limited Chickcharnies, Bimini & Berry Island Marlins, Eleuthera Adventurers, Exuma Navigators, Grand Bahama Lucayans, Long Island Sheep Runners, Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay (MICAL) Flamingos, and New Providence Buccaneers.

RF Bank’s philanthropic focus on supporting the evolution of golf in The Bahamas makes it an ideal partner for the Bahamas Games golf tournament.

Through this sponsorship, RF Bank aims to contribute to the growth and development of the sport in the region, as well as foster a sense of community and national pride.

“We are thrilled to be a sponsor of the Bahamas Games golf tournament and join in the celebration of the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games,” said Rachael Allahar, AVP and group head of marketing at RF Bank & Trust. “RF

recognises the importance of investing in the growth and prosperity of The Bahamas and supporting initiatives that enhance the local community.

“We look forward to witnessing the talent, dedication, and sportsmanship of the participants while commemorating the nation’s 50 years of independence.”

“We are incredibly grateful to RF and our partners for their support in making

the Bahamas Games golf tournament a resounding success,” said Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, tournament director.

“Over the course of three days, we will witness intense competition and healthy rivalries, creating thrilling battles and unforgettable moments. “We are very excited to see all the players and wish them all a great tournament.”

The tournament will kick off with a practice day on

LANGER, 65, WINS US SENIOR OPEN TO BREAK THE champions’ VICTORY RECORD

STEVENS POINT, Wis.

(AP) — Bernhard Langer won the U.S. Senior Open on Sunday at SentryWorld to break the PGA Tour Champions’ career victory record.

Pushing his record as the oldest winner on the 50-and-over tour to 65 years, 10 months, 5 days, the German star broke a tie with Hale Irwin for the victory mark with No. 46.

“I have my mother that’s going to be 100 on August 4th, so I think I have good genes,” Langer said. “Hopefully, I’ll be around a few more years.”

Seven strokes ahead on the back nine, Langer bogeyed the final three holes for 1-under 70 and a two-stroke victory over home-state favourite Steve Stricker on the tree-lined course with thick rough.

July 11, allowing all players and coaches to acclimate to the Ocean Club golf course. The following days will be dedicated to the tournament itself, with teams competing to secure their spot at the top of the leaderboard.

The final standings from the golf tournament will contribute to the overall points tally for each island, ultimately determining the winner of the Bahamas Games.

PHILIPSEN WINS THIRD STAGE OF TOUR DE FRANCE, YATES KEEPS OVERALL LEAD

BAYONNE, France

(AP) — Belgian cyclist

Jasper Philipsen won the third stage of the Tour de France in a bunched sprint yesterday, while Adam Yates of Britain kept the race leader’s yellow jersey.

The 25-year-old Philipsen, who won two stages in last year’s race, was expertly led to the front by his Alpecin–Deceuninck teammate Mathieu van der Poel and comfortably held off German rider Phil Bauhaus and Australian Caleb Ewan as they dashed to the line.

“It was a tense final, but this is the Tour de France: there are no presents, everybody goes all-in,” Philipsen said.

“It’s amazing to have Mathieu as a lead-out man. If he had the space to go, for sure he has the speed to fight for the win.”

Danish sprinter Fabio Jakobsen was fourth ahead of Belgian standout Wout van Aert, who failed to overtake Philipsen on the right in the last 50 metres and backed off near a crash barrier.

They all clocked 4 hours, 43 minutes, 15 seconds on the 193-kilometre (120-mile) route from Amorebieta-Etxano in Spain’s Basque country to Bayonne in France.

The main contenders for the overall win arrived safely.

Yates maintained his sixsecond lead over two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and his twin brother Simon Yates in third.

“For us it’s been more about recovering as much as possible,” Yates said.

“It’s hard to have the chance to do so in the Tour de France, so we try and grab every chance we get.”

Defending champion

Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark stayed in sixth spot

heading into Tuesday’s fourth stage.

Pogacar, who had surgery on his broken left wrist following a crash during the Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic, was relieved to avoid any danger.

“I tried to stay safe in the finale, as it was a really fast finish but the rest of the stage was calmer. So far, so good,” Pogacar said.

“We have two easier days from the GC (general classification) perspective, as I hope tomorrow’s stage is like today’s, and then we will hit the Pyrenees.”

Monday’s trek rolled serenely past the Zenaruzza monastery and through hilly countryside under reposing blue skies, before crossing over into France. American Neilson Powless and French veteran

Laurent Pichon set off early on a breakaway, but others did not follow and took it rather easy in terms of speed.

Pogacar punctured his rear tire, but smiled as he easily made his way back to the peloton.

Powless gave a thumbs up to the crowd and a peace sign to the television camera alongside him after being the first to reach the top of the Cote de Milloi — one of four small climbs on an otherwise flat route passing by quaint fishing villages on the Atlantic coast.

French rider Victor Lafay, the winner of Sunday’s second stage, gave chase briefly to gain some points in the quest for the green jersey awarded each year for best sprinter.

Powless pumped his right fist after completing the fourth climb and, having collected all the day’s points counting toward the best climber’s polka-dot jersey, he then dropped off the pace.

“It has been a successful day. I got to score some KOM (King of the Mountains) points today and it didn’t cost too much energy,” Powless said.

“I felt very good today. Everything is going in a good direction.

“I’ll have one day to relax tomorrow that will help get me ready for the Pyrenees.”

Powless dropping off left the 36-year-old Pichon alone in front as he passed two imposing French chateaux and zoomed past the famed port of

Saint-Jean-de-Luz. But with his head down and his lead evaporating, Pichon had no time to take in any of those sights and he was caught with 37 kilometres (23 miles) to go.

The large pack — featuring a dozen contenders for the stage win — then stepped up the pace considerably as each team prepared their sprinters for the shootout.

Today’s 181.8-kilometre (112.7-mile) route from Dax to Nogaro in southwestern France is almost totally flat and again favours sprinters.

Following that ride, climbers will test their legs with two big ascents on Stage 5, including a daunting 15.2-kilometre (9.4-mile) grind up Col de Soudet.

“Never thought it would happen at a U.S. Senior Open, but I’m very thrilled that the record of 46 wins happened this week,” Langer said. “It’s certainly one of the greatest tournaments we ever compete in, and to beat this field, where everybody was here, especially Stricker and (Jerry) Kelly on their home grounds, is a very special feeling.”

Langer finished at 7-under 277, with only eight players breaking par for the week. He shattered the tournament age record set by Allen Doyle in 2006 at Prairie Dunes at 57 years, 11 months, 14 days.

“There are a lot more aches and pains than 10 years ago,” Langer said. “I still enjoy the game. If I play like I did this week, I’m going to keep playing. There have been the odd week when I thought, `What were you doing out here? Go home and play with the grandkids.’”

The two-time Masters champion has a record 13 victories since turning 60 and holds the top five spots on the oldest-winners list. He has multiple victories in 11 straight seasons and 14 overall.

SRI LANKA QUALIFIES FOR CRICKET WCUP

BULAWAYO,

Zimba-

bwe (AP) — Sri Lanka booked its place at this year’s Cricket World Cup by claiming one of the two spots available at a qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Sri Lanka crushed Zimbabwe by nine wickets after an unbeaten century by opener Pathum Nissanka to seal its ticket.

That confirmed one of the two final places for this year’s World Cup in India, which begins in October. Zimbabwe is still in position to take the last place and join cricket’s biggest teams for the 50-over showpiece, although it must beat Scotland in its last game to be certain.

Sri Lanka’s crushing win over the qualifying tournament host at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo came after it bowled the Zimbabweans out for 165, with spinner Maheesh Theekshana taking 4-25 off 8.2 overs. Sri Lanka made 169-1.

“Coming into this tournament we had plans and we executed them,” Theekshana said.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup winner, has won six from six so far at the qualifying tournament and kept its record of playing at every Cricket World Cup.

It has one more game to play in the Super Six stage against West Indies, which was eliminated on Saturday, before it appears in the qualifying tournament’s final on July 9.

SHOWN, from left to right, Rachael Allahar, RF AVP and group head of marketing, Gina Gonzalez-Rolle, tournament director, David Van Onselen, RF VP and group head of business development.

BELGIUM’S JASPER PHILIPSEN, left, celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of second placed Germany’s Phil Bauhaus, right, to win the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 187.5 kilometers (116.5 miles) with start in Morebieta Etxano, Spain and finish in Bayonne, France, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

JOHNSON

SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP IN ITS FINAL WEEK

By MALIQUE WALLACE Tribune Intern

THE 23rd Kevin Johnson Summer Basketball Camp is now in its final week at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.

Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson, the camp coordinator, says that he is always excited to teach kids the fundamentals and basics of basketball.

Following his motto of putting “God, family, education and basketball” first in their lives, Johnson’s coaching has helped boys and girls between the ages of 5-19 as well as those who are older to exceed

their own expectations in becoming a better player in every area. He explains to us that in order for kids to become better players both physically and mentally, they need the proper instructors because, at the end of the day, he wants the kids learning the right way. About 120-130 kids arrived at this camp, convinced that they will learn the proper techniques, drills and other fundamentals needed to play this sport. With the help of coach Shannon Williams, coach Emanuel Alexander, coach Davin Hannah, and coach Franko Johnson.

Coach Johnson can achieve his goal in turning kids from simply picking up and bouncing a ball to all-round all-star athletes.

Coach Thurman Johnson, who is the brother of coach Johnson, has had well over 10 years of coaching experience where he has had the chance to see these kids grow from rock bottom to the top. He says that he is impressed with the kids 4-10 on how they are able to learn so quickly with their skill set, dribbling, passing and shooting.

Two kids who are participating in camp decided to talk about what they have

learned and how this camp has helped them so far.

Twelve-year-old Christian Joseph is not only in the 8th grade participating in this camp, but is also a 4th level swimmer for the Blue Rays.

When we asked why he joined this camp, he says that as a shooting guard he wanted to get better in shooting and dribbling.

“By coming to this camp I learned how to control the ball more and handle it better,” said Joseph, who attends St Anne’s School where he plays on the basketball team. His brother Charles Joseph attended CI Gibson

and is now enrolled and about to graduate from Northeast Community College.

Another camper, 13-year-old Arinai Rolle, who is in the 9th grade, says that the reason why she came to this camp was to play more and get better physically. This is her second year participating in this camp and she has learned a lot.

On Friday, the camp will have its closing ceremony when all the campers will be featured in a showcase for their parents to see how much their kids have improved over these last few weeks.

USA BASKETBALL FILLS WORLD CUP ROSTER WITH HART AS LAST COMMIT

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

NEW York guard Josh Hart has given his commitment to USA Basketball to play in this summer’s World Cup, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday.

Hart is the 12th, and presumably final, person to commit to the team, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the roster has not been announced by USA Basketball. That announcement is expected at some point this month; the team begins training camp in Las Vegas in early August.

And the roster could still change, for a variety of reasons. There will be a select team chosen by USA Basketball for the World Cup squad to play and practice against in Las Vegas, and players from the select team could be elevated to the World Cup roster in case of injury or should a committed player bow out.

Hart joins his Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson on the list of committed players, along with Brooklyn teammates Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges, Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis and Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr.

The team will be coached by Golden State’s Steve Kerr, assisted by Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.

an NBA

on a five-year, $207 million contract extension that could reach $260 million.

Anthony Edwards and Timberwolves agree on max contract extension

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

THE Minnesota Timberwolves have made it clear:

They’re going to build around Anthony Edwards.

The Timberwolves and Edwards agreed on a max extension on Monday — five years, $207 million, with a chance of the deal reaching $260 million, agent Bill Duffy confirmed to The Associated Press. Edwards’ new contract will begin in the 202425 season. He becomes the fourth player to get the maximum rookiescale extension so far this summer, joining Indiana’s

CAC GAMES

FROM PAGE 16

The other Bahamian in the competition, Kyle Alcine, who celebrated his 24th birthday on June 29, bowed out at 6-11 ½ (2.12m).

In the men’s decathlon yesterday, Mullings moved into second place after the first day of competition, while national record holder Kendrick Thompson didn’t start the 400m and had to withdraw from the final five events on tap today.

Tyrese Haliburton, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball and Memphis’ Desmond Bane. His deal would reach the supermax level if he makes an All-NBA team.

Edwards was an AllStar for the first time this past season, and he has gotten better in each of his first three years with the Timberwolves. His scoring, rebound, assist, steal and shooting numbers have increased each season. Edwards averaged 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals on 46% shooting this past season — while shooting 37% from 3-point range.

Mullings, the former national record holder, ended up with 4,307 points after the first five events yesterday. He trails frontrunner Ayden Owens from Puerto Rico, who surged ahead with 4,436.

Mullings, 24, got third in the 100m in 10.69 to accumulate 931 points, was ninth in the long jump with 23-2 (7.06m) for 828 points, got second in the shot put with 48-4 ½ (14.74m) for 747 points and won the high jump with 6-11 ¾ (2.13m) for 925 points before he ended up fifth in the 400m in 49.26.

Thompson, on the other hand, was fourth in the

Only nine players averaged as many points, rebounds and assists per game as Edwards. Of the nine, he was the youngest at 21. Add the steals per game to that list, and Edwards became the youngest player to have those averages in each of those categories since LeBron James in 2005-06.

The only question regarding Edwards and the extension was how quickly it would happen. By league rule, Minnesota had to wait until July 1 — the deals for Bane and Haliburton, for example, came shortly after midnight EDT in the wee hours of Saturday.

100m in 10.72 for 924 points, seventh in the long hump with 23-3 ¼ (7.09m) for 835 points, third in the shot put with 47-5 ¾ (14.47m) for 757 points, fourth in the high jump with 6-6 (1.98m) for 785 points before he skipped the 400m and was eliminated from further competition.

Today, Mullings will go alone as he completes the competition in the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500m.

Also yesterday, Anthaya Charlton, the only female competitor on the track, got fourth in her heat of the 200m where she clocked 11.68 seconds and was 20th

Another couple of days didn’t seem to hurt the Wolves. Edwards was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft and turns 22 next month — when he’s scheduled to be part of the USA Basketball roster that’ll play in the FIBA World Cup. He took a significant step this past season toward becoming Minnesota’s true go-to player while two-time AllStar Karl-Anthony Towns missed 52 games with a calf strain.

The Wolves now have three max players on their roster in Edwards, Towns and center Rudy Gobert. Last year, the Wolves and

overall as she just missed making the final by two spots.

Julien Alfred from St Lucia had the fastest qualifying time of 11.28. The eighth and final spot was picked up by Akilah Lewis of Trinidad & Tobago in 11.57.

Retired “Golden Girl” Chandra Sturrup still holds the meet record of 11.17 that she established on August 16, 1998 in Venezuela.

Also in action today will be NCAA champion Rhema Otabor in the final of the women’s javelin. She will be the seventh of eight competitors in the

Towns agreed to a $224 million contract extension as soon as the negotiation period opened. Gobert, whose first season with Minnesota after the whopper trade with Utah was filled with growing pains between him and his new team, has three years left on his deal. Towns has five.

The Wolves made the playoffs in each of the last two years, falling in the first round both times. They’ll try for a third consecutive winning record this coming season, a streak the likes of which the franchise hasn’t enjoyed since six straight years over .500 from 199900 through 2004-05.

competition with her lifetime best of 195-2 (59.49m).

In water polo, Team Bahamas suffered its second straight loss yesterday after opening up its initial appearance in the games with a victory.

In their latest game yesterday against Trinidad & Tobago, Team Bahamas lost a hard fought 11-7 decision as Nicholas Whitfield-Wallace and Joshua Green both scored a pair of goals and Khari Marshall, Aidan Johnson and Matthew Thompson added a goal each. Team Bahamas, led by coach Laszlo Borbely, gave it a gallant effort, but

Of the 12 players, six — Ingram (24.7), Edwards (24.6), Brunson (24.0), Haliburton (20.7), Bridges (20.1) and Banchero (20.0) — averaged at least 20 points per game in the NBA last season.

The Americans will play five warm-up games before the World Cup: Aug. 7 against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas, Aug. 12 against Slovenia and Aug. 13 against Spain in Spain, then Aug. 18 against Greece and Aug. 20 against Germany at Abu Dhabi.

The World Cup runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. The Americans will be in Manila for the entirety of their stay in the tournament and have group stage games against New Zealand on Aug. 26, Greece on Aug. 28 and Jordan on Aug. 30.

The tournament is the primary qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. will have to finish as the best or second-best team from the Americas Region at the World Cup to automatically qualify for Paris, where the Americans will seek a fifth consecutive Olympic title.

The top two World Cup finishers from Europe and the Americas, as well as one from Africa, Asia and Oceania, will earn berths into Paris 2024.

trailed 3-2 at the end of the first quarter and 6-4 at the half. Team Bahamas outscored Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 in the third to cut the deficit to 8-6 going into the fourth.

In the period, Trinadad & Tobago went on a 3-1 scoring rampage to hold off any further comeback by Team Bahamas.

Team Bahamas, who won their first game with a 10-9 nipping of Centro Caribe Sports in their opener on Saturday before they fell 27-2 to Mexico on Sunday, will be off today, but will face Puerto Rico in their quarter-final match on Wednesday.

MINNESOTA Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) starts a fast break, trailed by teammates, guard Mike Conley (10) and centre Rudy Gobert (27) in the first quarter of

basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California, on March 27. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards agreed yesterday

(AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Pacers agree to 2-year, $45m deal with Bruce Brown, source says

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— The Indiana Pacers tried to acquire a veteran wing before last week’s NBA draft. When that didn’t work, they shifted to Plan B — free agency.

Less than 30 minutes after teams were allowed to negotiate with free agents Friday, the Pacers and Bruce Brown Jr agreed on a two-year contract worth $45 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person, who requested anonymity because the deal has not yet been announced publicly, said the deal includes a team option for 2024-25.

“We were very, very aggressive pursuing (a trade),” general manager Chad Buchanan said last week. “There were about six guys who fit our timeline and the way we play. Unfortunately, they were not available. We started looking at other opportunities that were potentially available, that probably gave us four or five more wins next year but probably limited us in the long run.”

So they bided time and waited to make a rare, splashy, early move in free agency.

They cashed in on their salary-cap position by taking advantage of the league rules that put NBA champion Denver in a bind to re-sign Brown, a key cog in their title run. The Nuggets wanted Brown so badly that during the city’s recent championship parade, coach Mike Malone told the roaring crowd Brown wasn’t going anywhere.

Instead, he wound up with Indiana because Denver couldn’t offer anything close to the Pacers.

Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield could be on the trading bloc, according to reports

DAMIAN LILLARD ASKS BLAZERS FOR A TRADE

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

DAMIAN Lillard has said repeatedly that he wants to contend for a championship. After 11 years in Portland, he has decided he needs to move elsewhere to make that happen.

Lillard asked the Trail Blazers for a trade, a move that will end the seven-time All-Star’s tenure with that team, two people familiar with the matter said Saturday. The team later confirmed that Lillard had made the request.

Lillard is generating interest from the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, among others, according to the people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no details were announced publicly.

One of the people told the AP that Lillard’s preference is Miami — the reigning Eastern Conference champion — though that hardly guarantees the Trail Blazers will work to facilitate that specific move.

Brown made $6.5 million last season and the Pacers were one of the league’s few teams that was so far below the cap threshold, luxury tax or new second apron, they took a big swing for the fences.

What does Brown do for the Pacers?

He’s another young, emerging player seemingly ready for a breakout season and he’s the third defensive-minded guy Indiana has added since last week.

The Pacers used their two first-round picks on power forward Jarace Walker and

Beal enters his 30s with Suns, says he’s ready to ‘chase this ring’

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports

PHOENIX (AP) —

Bradley Beal was drafted on his 19th birthday and spent his entire 20s with the Washington Wizards, where he scored a lot of points, enjoyed a little team success, but also suffered through plenty of painful losses.

On Wednesday, he turned 30. Not a bad time for a new chapter in the three-time All-Star’s life and basketball career.

Beal was introduced as a member of the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at the Footprint Center, more than a week after he waived a no-trade clause that allowed him to be sent to the desert in exchange for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and a package of future draft picks.

“I feel refreshed, I feel rejuvenated,” Beal said. “This is an exciting moment for me. This is an awesome team.”

Beal is now part of one of the NBA’s most star-packed starting lineups, including 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant, three-time All-Star Devin Booker and former No. 1 draft pick Deandre Ayton. They’ve also got a new coach in Frank Vogel, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to a title in 2020.

“Bradley Beal is one of the best players in the NBA,” Vogel said. “We’re thrilled to have him be a Phoenix Sun with KD and Book. That forms a trio of three of the most prolific scorers in the game. A great two-way centre, one of the best two-way centres in the game.

“These pieces are a great foundation for what we hope will be a championship run for this franchise.”

Beal’s arrival marks the latest big move for new owner Mat Ishbia, who has had an extremely eventful tenure since purchasing the franchise from the embattled Robert Sarver in February. Almost

wing Ben Sheppard. Coach Rick Carlisle made it clear what the Pacers needed to do during the offseason after Indiana allowed 119.5 points, the second-most in the league.

“With the excitement that’s been generated from the positives of this season, we must be very forthright about our challenges,” Carlisle said at April’s season-ending news conference. “Our challenges remain defense and rebounding.”

Brown joins a roster that already includes popular

All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, two-time NBA blocks champion Myles Turner and all-rookie swingman Bennedict Mathurin.

Last season, Brown started 31 regular-season games for the Nuggets, posting averages of 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

But Indiana might not be finished making moves.

Buddy Hield, last season’s starting wing, could be on the trading bloc after finishing tied for fifth in 3-pointers per game (3.6)

per

(3.6) while

asset on

while shooting 45.8% from beyond the arc. He turns 31 in December, is on an expiring contract and could become viable scoring asset on a title contender.

Chris Duarte, an allrookie guard in 2021-22, also could be on the move following an injury-plagued season put him behind Haliburton, Mathurin, rookie Andrew Nembhard and veteran T.J. McConnell on the depth chart.

Plus, the Pacers are still $48.1 million below the luxury tax and have extra draft picks, too.

“We have been clear that we want Dame here, but he notified us today he wants out and he’d prefer to play someplace else,” Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said in a statement distributed by the team.

“What has not changed for us is that we’re committed to winning, and we are going to do what’s best for the team in pursuit of that goal.”

Lillard is coming off a season in which he averaged 32.2 points for the Trail Blazers. He is a seven-time AllNBA selection and was selected to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team — but he has never been close to a title in his 11 seasons in the league.

He has met with Portland multiple times in recent weeks, asking for the roster to be upgraded to the point where he can compete for a championship.

But those efforts, evidently, have not gone to Lillard’s liking and led to him asking to be moved. His decision was revealed on the second day of NBA free agency, after Portland made a huge splash on the first night by retaining Jerami Grant with a $160 million, five-year deal.

For as great as his résumé is, Lillard hasn’t enjoyed much in the way of postseason success.

The Blazers have won only four playoff series in his 11 seasons, making the Western Conference finals once during that span.

The team went 33-49 this past season, the second consecutive year of finishing well outside the playoff picture.

“I’m excited to play with two Hall of Famers, I’ve never done that,” Beal said. “I’m excited what that brings. They’ll push me in ways I’ve never been pushed and hopefully I’ll do the same.”

Beal’s arrival also means the Suns will have to engage in some salary cap gymnastics to fill out their roster.

immediately after he was introduced, he approved the team’s big deal to land Durant at the trade deadline.

A few months later, he got into a brief sideline spat with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic during a playoff game. (The two have since made up.)

Now Ishbia and general manager James Jones have swung a deal that brings Beal and his big scoring numbers across the country. The three-time All-Star has

averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the past seven seasons, including a career-high 31.3 points per game during the 2020-21 season.

Beal never got past the second round of the playoffs with the Wizards, but still has plenty of fond memories of his tenure in the nation’s capital.

“I have a lot of emotional ties to that city, my family was established there,” Beal said. “So I just want to take a moment to thank

the city of D.C., thank the organisation for allowing this partnership to happen.”

But Beal also admits he’s excited about his new challenge. The sharpshooting guard was often the Wizards’ main scoring option, but in Phoenix, he’ll be sharing the load with several other stars.

The Suns are trying to win their first championship since coming to the NBA in 1968. They’ve lost in the Finals three times — in 1976, 1993 and 2021.

The foursome of Durant, Beal, Booker and Ayton will make more than $160 million next season.

A summer of bargain hunting on the free agent market awaits, but that’s a problem to worry about another day.

For now, Beal and the Suns are relishing a roster that looks like it will be among the very best in the league during the upcoming season.

“Hopefully, we can chase this ring,” Beal said.

BUDDY HIELD, last season’s starting wing, could be on the trading bloc after finishing tied for fifth in 3-pointers

game

shooting 45.8% from beyond the arc. He turns 31 in December, is on an expiring contract and could become viable scoring

a title contender. (AP Photo)

Writer

NEW Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal, middle, is flanked by Suns president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones and had coach Frank Vogel, right, as Beal holds up a new Suns jersey during an NBA basketball news conference on June 29 in Phoenix.

(AP Photo/Ross D Franklin)

Jazz Chisholm Jr back on injured list, this time with oblique strain

By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) — The Marlins placed outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr on the 10-day injured list yesterday with a left oblique strain one week after he returned from a separate injury.

Chisholm, who was the designated hitter in a loss to the Braves on Sunday, left in the sixth inning after appearing to show discomfort after striking out.

He said he felt his oblique cramp on the follow through of the swinging strikeout.

Chisholm said yesterday that his oblique “feels pretty good right now” as the team awaits the results of an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.

He added that he doesn’t think it’s a tear.

“It’s not fun to see any player grab their side,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker before Monday’s game against St. Louis.

NFL FLAG

FROM PAGE 16

NFL Flag Bahamas is encouraging anyone from the age of 6 or above that has an interest or passion for the game of football to sign up for the clinic, as it will be an experience every participant will remember.

In terms of future plans, NFL Flag Football Bahamas are working on strategies that will allow local athletes to participate on the world stage in the game of flag football. There are opportunities that we would not have dreamed possible had it not been for NFL Flag Football Bahamas.

Jayson Clarke, who is assisting with NFL Flag Bahamas, indicated that he is looking forward to NFL Flag to put flag football here in The Bahamas on a fast track, by providing an elevated level of exposure and opportunities by leveraging its international affiliations.

Once the NFL Flag Football clinic is hosted, the ag football season, for both adults and kids, is intended to launch and commence in late August.

EMANIEL

FROM PAGE 16

through right now.” ‘

Johnson said he’s been just as pleased with the performances of all the other players on the team. He noted that they went off to Northeast Community College and they performed exceptionally well. Through the example that they demonstrated, Johnson said he’s looking forward to the next group of basketball players coming out of his Rattlers and Providence Storm basketball club to make the transition from high school to college. The rest of the Bahamian connection at Northwest Community College this past season were: Sanusi, a 5-9 guard, played in all 32 games, averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists; Strachan, a 6-1 guard, played in 28 games and averaged 4.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists; Rolle, a 6-7 forward, played in 30 games with an average of 3.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.5 assists and Storr, a 6-5 forward, averaged 14.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30 games played. Joseph, a 6-8 centre, didn’t play this season.

“When you grab your side, for me it’s pretty deflating because I’ve pulled my oblique and had intercostal.

“So we’re hoping for a minimal injury — that he caught it in time and didn’t try to push through.”

The Marlins activated Chisholm from the injured list last week after he’d been sidelined for a month with a right toe turf injury.

He was 8 for 28 with two home runs and five RBIs in his six games back with the team in the series against Boston and Atlanta.

As a result of his injury, the Marlins selected the contract of outfielder Dane Meyers from Triple-A Jacksonville.

“It’s frustrating but I trust my teammates,” Chisholm said of going back on the injured list.

“I trust the guys and I trust the staff that they made the right decision on who they’re bringing to replace me on the roster and help us keep winning,” he stated.

MICHAEL HARRIS HITS 2 HRS, BRAVES BEAT GUARDIANS 4-2 FOR NINTH STRAIGHT VICTORY

CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Harris homered twice and Bryce Elder, one of Atlanta’s eight AllStars, pitched 6 2/3 solid innings to lead the Braves to their seasonhigh ninth straight win, 4-2 over the Cleveland Guardians last night. Harris connected for solo shots in the third and fifth innings off Guardians rookie Gavin Williams (0-1). Atlanta’s No. 9 hitter is batting .416 (37 of 89) with seven homers and 16 RBIs in his last 24 games.

Marcell Ozuna also homered for the Braves, who have won 17 of 18 and 24 of 27. Atlanta, which has had three winning streaks of at least eight games, improved MLB’s best record to 57-27.

Elder (7-1) didn’t give up a run until Amed Rosario’s two-run single in the seventh. A.J. Minter came on and got out of a two-on jam and Nick Anderson retired Myles Straw with two on in the eighth. Raisel Iglesias worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save.

REDS 3, NATIONALS 2

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joey Votto hit a two-run home run to end an 0-for-21 slump, Ian Gibaut pitched out of a jam in the sixth inning and Cincinnati beat Washington for its fifth win in six games.

Votto homered in the fourth off Jake Irvin, depositing the ball just inside the visiting bullpen in leftcenter field and driving in Elly De La Cruz. It’s his fourth home run in 12 games this season since returning in June.

Luke Weaver (2-2) picked up the win by allowing two earned runs on six hits in five-plus innings. He was spared a 10th consecutive no-decision — or worse — when Gibaut got through the sixth, allowing just one hit, striking out Corey Dickerson and inducing a flyout from Derek Hill.

Catcher Tyler Stephenson drove in the Reds’ other run with an RBI single in the second. Fresh off being named an All-Star for the first time, closer Alexis Díaz picked up his 24th save.

Jeimer Candelario hit his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning for Washington. Irvin (1-4) struck out three and allowed six hits.

MARLINS 5, CARDINALS 4

MIAMI (AP) — Nick Fortes hit a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning and Miami rallied to beat St. Louis.

Marlins pinch hitter Yuli Gurriel tied it in the seventh with a two-run double against reliever Andre Pallante (2-1) after two straight walks. The Marlins then inserted the speedy Jon Berti to pinch run for Gurriel, and Berti scored on Fortes’ ground-ball single.

Marlins reliever Tanner Scott worked a scoreless eighth to preserve the lead, and A.J. Puk got the final three outs for his 14 save of the season.

Paul DeJong had broken a 2-2 tie in the sixth with an RBI double for the Cardinals. Willson Contreras was 3 for 4, finishing a triple shy of

VENUS FALLS EARLY IN HER FIRST MATCH AT HER 24TH WIMBLEDON

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

WIMBLEDON, England (AP)

the cycle. Huascar Brazoban (3-1) got the last two outs of the seventh for the win.

YANKEES 6, ORIOLES 3 NEW YORK (AP) — Harrison Bader hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning and New York rallied to beat Baltimore.

Anthony Volpe scored the tying run in the seventh on a wild pitch by All-Star reliever Yennier Cano (1-1) before the Yankees completed the comeback ahead of a postgame fireworks show.

Giancarlo Stanton opened the eighth with a hard single off Cano before Anthony Rizzo followed with a single against Danny Coulombe. After showing bunt on the first pitch, Bader drove a 1-1 sweeper into the left-field seats for his seventh homer.

Tommy Kahnle (1-0) stranded former Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks in the eighth to keep it tied. Clay Holmes struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save.

The second-place Orioles lost for the fifth time in six games and are three games ahead of third-place New York in the division standings.

BREWERS 8, CUBS 6

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Newly signed Jahmai Jones hit a pinchhit, three-run double in his first big league appearance since 2021, helping Milwaukee rally past Chicago. With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, Jones hit a line drive on the first pitch from reliever Anthony Kay that one-hopped off the center field wall and scored Raimel Tapia, Christian Yelich and Owen Miller, tying the game at 6.

The Brewers completed their comeback from a six-run deficit in

the eighth inning with an RBI single by Willy Adames and a sacrifice fly by Miller — both off Mark Leiter Jr. (1-2) — to take an 8-6 lead. Brewers All-Star reliever Devin Williams allowed a double by Nico Hoerner and a walk to Ian Happ in the ninth, and then struck out AllStar Dansby Swanson to earn his 18th save.

Joel Payamps (3-1) pitched a perfect eighth inning for Milwaukee.

The Brewers won their third straight game and remained tied for first place in the NL Central with Cincinnati. The Cubs have lost three straight and seven of their last eight.

ASTROS 12, RANGERS 11 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — José Abreu and Chas McCormick had back-to-back RBI doubles in the ninth inning and second-place Houston Astros recovered after giving up an eight-run lead.

Abreu and McCormick also homered earlier for Houston, which took three of four against its instate rival to move within three games of the division lead. It is the closest the Astros have been in a month after trailing by as many as 6 1/2 games.

Kyle Tucker, who hit Houston’s majors-best eighth grand slam in the second for a 6-0 lead, led off the ninth with a single against Rangers closer Will Smith (1-3), who had only his second blown save in 16 chances.

Abreu and McCormick then followed Alex Bregman’s deep flyout with their doubles.

The Rangers had their only lead on Corey Seager’s sacrifice fly that made it 11-10 in the eighth.

Bryan Abreu (3-2), the fifth Houston pitcher, allowed that run in the eighth before Ryan Pressly worked the ninth for his 18th save in 21 tries.

—

As Venus Williams entered Centre Court for her 24th Wimbledon appearance at age 43, greeted by a standing ovation, she held a green exercise band overhead with both hands and stretched it while striding to her sideline seat.

Once her first-round match against Elina Svitolina began, Williams played like a throwback version of herself. Those big serves. Those crisp strokes. Quickly, she was a point from a 3-0 lead yesterday.

And then, moving forward to attempt a volley, Williams slipped on the green grass. Her right foot gave way. She collapsed to the ground. She shrieked and clutched at her right knee, which already was covered by a beige sleeve. Williams twice was treated by a trainer — including getting that knee taped up during a medical timeout after the first set — and although the American kept playing, she could not manage to overcome 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist Svitolina in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat. “I’m not sure what I’ve done. I’m going to have to investigate it tomorrow. It’s late today. But it was quite painful,” Williams said. “Grass is inherently going to be slippery; you’re going to fall at some point. It was just bad luck for me. I started the match perfectly. I was literally killing it. And then I got killed by the grass.”

Williams, a former No. 1 now ranked outside the Top 500 after a series of injuries that limited her to 22 matches since the start of 2021, was the oldest player in this year’s field.

KENIN SHOCKS COCO GAUFF

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

WIMBLEDON, England

(AP) — Sofia Kenin used to be the up-and-coming American, the one who was a Grand Slam champion at age 21, the one who beat a teenage Coco Gauff on the way to that trophy, the one who right afterward broke into the Top 10 in the WTA rankings, then soon made another run to a major final. After all of that came a series of health issues — a lingering foot injury, a bout with COVID-19, a right ankle problem — and three first-round exits in a row at major tournaments, all of which added up to a slide down the rankings. Coming into Wimbledon, Kenin was ranked 128th, so low she needed to go through three qualifying rounds just to get into the main draw, where she was placed in the bracket against none other than Gauff.

It’s Gauff who is now in the Top 10 at age 19 and seeded No. 7 at the All England Club, who was a Slam runner-up at last year’s French Open, who was a quarterfinalist or better at four of the most recent nine majors. And yet it was Kenin who came out on top in their highlightfilled matchup on a windy, chilly Monday at No. 1 Court, beating Gauff 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

“I know where I was,” Kenin said, “and where I should be.”

She was steadier than Gauff, with far fewer winners but also far fewer unforced errors.

Here’s how Kenin described her mindset: “Don’t get anxious or super excited.”

Kenin also acknowledged afterward that she set out to “pick on her forehand a little bit more,” referring to Gauff’s weaker side.

“I didn’t really put too much pressure on her,” Gauff said. “I felt like she could make a ball on the

MIAMI Marlins centre fielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr catches a fly ball by Atlanta Braves centre fielder Michael Harris II in the first inning during a baseball game on Saturday in Atlanta.

(AP Photo/Alex Slitz)

ATLANTA Braves’ Michael Harris II celebrates with teammates in the dugout following his home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians yesterday in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Homeschool key for graduates

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Homeschool Association recently held a graduation ceremony and congratulated outstanding scholars of the programme.

Daniel McCartney graduated from Northstar Academy and he credits his disciplined approach to education to his experience homeschooling.

He said: “My experience with homeschooling was pretty good overall, because it gave me discipline on what to do. In my homeschool, they give you they just give you the weeks and you have to work it out yourself. You can basically finish a grade in two months if you’re willing. But it gave me discipline in order to know what I have to do. I didn’t have people telling me what to do. But I had to choose my schedule and all of that stuff. So it basically gave me discipline, and now I’m ready for college.”

Daniel enjoys participating in ministry at Christ Community Church where he serves in the Technology and Media Ministry. He is also an avid gamer and enjoys spending his free time competing in various

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

gaming competitions. This led to him joining Northstar’s first Esports team and competing in the Concorde League. He explained that homeschooling gave him more free time to invest into his hobbies.

He said: “I was a part of eSports for my school, I was also working in church, at a ministry that helps kids to learn more about Christ and also worked in media for church. It really gives a lot of flexible time for you to be able to do things that you enjoy and that you love and gives you more time to put effort into your skills that you’re working on throughout life.

Daniel has been accepted into the Bachelor of Arts program in Animation at Regent University, Virginia Beach and into the Bachelor of Arts programme in gaming and interactive design at Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, with scholarships. He would like to one day put his technological skills to use as an animator.

He said: “I want to be an animator in the future. So I’m going to college degree in gaming and animation hopefully in the future I can learn how to work in those big corporations for Pixar and Disney and stuff like that. Maybe even make my own game.”

Javon Kemp Jr graduated from Kemp’s Christian Academy, powered by Abeka homeschool which is a combination of the Abeka Christian Academy Curriculum along with the Bahamas Ministry of Education Curriculum. Javon receives academic honors in physics, precalculus, Spanish 1, physical science and Hebrew history. He is also on the Principal’s List.

also completed certifications in OCSA, Cisco Networking Academy and NCCER from BTVI Technical & Vocational Institution as well as a Work Readiness Certificate in Plumbing I from BTVI. Additionally he received his College Preparatory Diploma from the Abeka Christian Academy Pensacola Florida. His extracurricular activities include participating in Junkanoo Colours Entertainment, swimming and he is currently enrolled in lifeguard training. He noted that the flexible hours are his favorite part of his homeschool programme as it allows him to explore his interests without restraint. He said: “The hours are flexible so you can do an early if you have to do something late or vice versa. It helps with our schedules, so we can do schoolwork and our other stuff, it’s probably my favorite part.

ANAELLE’S A STAR

KESNER Michel

recently graduated from Uriah McPhee Primary School.

He was a 2023 Student of the Year Nominee, a member of the track and field team, the basketball team and is a member of Cavallers Football Club.

Kesner’s favorite subject is Social Studies because it highlights where we are right now as a country and helps him to understand the real world from past and present perspectives. He enjoys playing sports, especially basketball and reading.

Kesner plans to continue to excel academically in order to one day become a general surgeon.

A fun fact about him is that he loves to pray.

• Do you know a student you would like to see featured in Student Spotlight?

Send a picture and brief details to jsimmons@ tribunemedia.net.

ANAELLE Gay, a sixth grade student at Windsor School, ranked 17th among 123 of the Bahamas

Primary School Student of the Year Foundation’s (BPSSYF) nominees, receiving the Patron’s Scholarship from Colina. Colina Insurance Limited (Colina) partnered with BPSSYF, who has awarded $2.2m in scholarships and prizes to hundreds of students across the islands of The Bahamas, for another consecutive year.

Ricardo P Deveaux, president and CEO of The BPSSYF noted that the organisation recognises the “best and brightest” primary school students and acknowledged Colina’s support of the programme.

He said: “The best and brightest primary school students have been recognised since the foundation’s inception.”

“The foundation would like to offer our appreciation for Colina’s support of our efforts to reward academic excellence in The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Programme.”

currently involved in swim ming, more specifically, we’re now doing lifeguard safety training. We are involved in Colours Junkanoo group, I’m a freelance, my sister, she’s a choreographed dancer. I also do drumming.”.

Currently, he is enrolled at BTVI studying plumbing and holds an apprenticeship with future goals to eventually obtain a Building (Construction) Engineering Technology degree. Additionally, he is registered at BTVI in the Maritime Program.

Liam August Slater is graduating with honors from Castle Christian Academy and will attend the University of The Bahamas in August where he will

education.

Liam has been involved in karate since he was nine years old and enjoys playing the piano,

tening to music. He also leads the singing and praise time at Sunday School and Youth Group.

Thank you, Sandals

THE breakfast and lunch programme for students at Gambier Primary School received a donation of much-needed kitchen supplies from the Sandals Foundation.

The items, which comprise a 6 cubic ft. refrigerator, a 25 cubic ft. refrigerator and a stainless steel kitchen work table will improve storage and preparation of meals for some 140 students attending the school.

Deloris Forbes, principal at Gambier Primary School, expressed how the donations will make a positive difference in the school’s nutrition programme.

She said: “We try to show up for our students regardless of our circumstances and serve healthy meals but were unable to do so effectively.”

“During the pandemic, we received a pre-owned refrigerator, but it was only

a temporary solution. With this donation, we can keep the vegetables and fruits that we purchase from Saint Christopher’s fresh for our breakfast programme and we will be in a better position to provide more nutritious meals to the students.”

Heidi Clarke, executive director at Sandals Foundation, shared the importance of the charitable arm of Sandals and Beaches Resorts responding to the call to supply the school with these resources.

She explained: “Healthier meals have been shown

to improve academic performance. However, we know that finding necessary funding to purchase the resources needed can often be difficult for schools. We were happy we could support the school’s efforts in meeting the needs of their students. With these resources, the school’s administrators can have less food wastage and direct their attention to other budgetary needs to help them do more,” The educational institution, which serves children ages six to 12, was also supported in its administrative needs through the purchase of two-ton air conditioning units, an office chair, pedestal file, receptionist desk and ink cartridges, making it possible for the administrative body and staff better operate and meet the needs of the students. The total value of the donations stand at over US$7000.

CLOCKWISE from top, Javon Kemp Jr, Daniel McCartney and Liam August Slater.

ANAELLE Gay with Maxine Seymour.

TUESDAY,

Miller Jr picks up bronze in high jump

Mullings in medal contention at CAC Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

As the action heat up for Team Bahamas yesterday at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Sal Salvador, El Salvador, Shaun Miller Jr picked up a bronze in the men’s high jump and Ken Mullings pushed himself in contention for another medal in the men’s decathlon.

Miller Jr, one of two Bahamians competing in the high jump, got his first knockdown at 7-feet, 1 1/2inches or 2.17 metres, but came back and cleared it on his second attempt.

He went up to 7-3 1/4 (2.22m) where he cleared his first attempt to move into silver.

But after he failed his three attempts at 7-4 1/2 (2.25m), the 21-yearold Miller Jr dropped to bronze, pushing the

NFL FLAG BAHAMAS TO HOST FIRST EVER FOOTBALL CLINIC ON JULY 11

JUST weeks ago, it was announced that the NFL Flag Football nation was expanding to the Caribbean, starting with The Bahamas.

Bahamas total to three medals so far at the games, adding to the gold and bronze won by Lamar Taylor last week in swimming.

Puerto Rico’s Luis Castro took the men’s high jump gold with 7-4 ½ (2.25m), while the silver went to Cuba’s Luis Zayas, who matched the height, but lost on more knockdowns.

SEE PAGE 12

BAHAMAS GAMES OPENING ON SATURDAY

By LEESHAN MORLEY Tribune Intern

THE opening ceremony for the sixth edition of the Bahamas Games will take place on Saturday at 6pm.

All of the Family Island teams will be arriving in New Providence on Thursday and will be housed in three different locations for the Games Village at Holiday Inn, The Marriott and Breezes hotel.

It’s estimated that around 3,000 athletes and officials will be participating in the games.

However, according to Keith ‘Belzee’ Smith, the treasurer of the Games Secretary, the housing for the New Providence team has yet to be determined because it was suggested that teams based in New Providence should not be housed in Games Village.

As of today, Smith said there is still back and forth on housing for the New Providence team with three days before the games.

The actual games will begin on Friday at am and continue on Saturday morning.

The budget for the games is not being exposed at this time, according to Smith. But he said the government is placing the amount in portals and making decisions on the funds, until then there is no set known amount of funds.

Funding has been distributed to all of the island councils based on what they would need to be prepared for the games.

However, there was concern that arose about the funding not being sufficient for all teams.

This resulted in all teams receiving additional

funding to cover any leftover preparation.

“The games are scheduled, and I am very confident that we will pull

off these games and it will be successful,” Smith said. “As we speak, we are still doing the final touches, final preparations and my

responsibility of getting funds where it is supposed to be.”

games will be held at the following locations:

Anatol Rodges - Basketball and volleyball; Donald Davis Junior High School - basketball; AF Adderly - basketball; Kendall GL

Isaacs Gym - basketball and volleyball; Banker Field - softball; Roscoe AL Davies - soccer; Betty Kelly Complex - swimming; Old TAR Stadium - track and field; University of The Bahamas - bodybuilding; National Boxing Center - boxing; National Tennis Center - tennis; Ocean Club, Atlantis - golf; Clifton Pier - cycling; Montague - sailing/Opti sailing; powerlifting - exhibition; Edukarting - exhibition at TAR Stadium.

Following this big announcement in June, NFL Flag Bahamas will host its very first ever ag football clinic on July 11 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

This will be a camp held for both youth and adult participants to showcase their skills and agility tests.

This camp will be a separated into three parts throughout the day:

1. Player testing

2. Expert coaching clinic

3. Competition

The NFL Flag Football Skills Camp will be led by Phoebe Schecter, NFL Flag, global ambassador, and first international woman to coach in the NFL.

Also expected to make a special appearance will be NFL Vice President, Roman Oben.

The excitement is in the air to have representatives from NFL Flag Football leading the clinic and assisted by some of The Bahamas ag football local coaches.

With the clinic being for both youth and adult participants, a strategic plan to orchestrate football stations to conduct both offensive and defensive drills are in place.

As for the direction of the camp, Chris Prudhome, NFL Flag Bahamas, President stated:

“I see the direction being one that has never been done before, developing the level of play and impacting the lives of many, including college scholarship opportunities.”

SEE PAGE 14

Emaniel Alexandre pleased with season, happy to be back home

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

EMANIEL Alexandre

was glad to be back home.

Alexandre was back on familiar grounds in the CI Gibson Gymnasium after he teamed up with Saheed Sanusi, Jaden Strachan, Bryan Rolle, Collin Storr and Charles Joseph on the CI Gibson Rattlers senior boys and Providence Storm basketball club teams.

The 20-year-old Alexandre and his Bahamian team-mates helped the Northeast Community

College Hawks men’s basketball team to a 15-17 win-loss record and a loss to Iowa Lakes Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region II Tournament quarterfinals.

After graduating with his associate degree in sports management, Alexandre came back home and made his presence felt at the CI Gibson Gymnasium where he worked as an instructor in the Kevin Johnson Basketball Camp.

“I feel pretty good. Besides the cold, it wasn’t

that bad,” said Alexandre, who is now preparing to transfer to Texas A&M International University.

“School was pretty nice. The teachers and everyone were looking out for you, making sure that you didn’t fail.

“Sports wise, it wasn’t bad either. We didn’t have a good year last year during our first season, but we had a pretty good season this year.

“Most of us were in our sophomore year, so we knew the system and we understood what was going on.”

Alexandre, who has

grown to about 6-feet and is now about 170 pounds, played in all 32 games during the season.

He averaged 16.1 points per game, shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 33.8 from the three-point arch and 65.5 percent from the free throw line, while dishing out 3.3 assists and grabbing 7.4 rebounds.

“It was a learning opportunity. It was a start, but it’s only preparing me for the bigger level,” Alexandre said.

“It was a learning opportunity for me. I think I will

only get better when I move to our next college.”

Looking back at where he came from, Alexandre said he was delighted to be able to share with the next generation of players in the basketball camp.

He encouraged the players to “just keep working and trust in your coach because when you get over there, if you don’t listen to them, you won’t make it.

You have to listen.”

Coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson, in welcoming Alexandre home, said he remembers when he was a member of his Rattlers’

team, along with the other players. “He’s now an allacademic, having made a 3.4 grade point average and he’s doing well,” Johnson said. “As a freshman, he led the team in scoring and now he’s graduated with his associate degree and is heading onto Texas A&M International.

“So I’m very proud of him. He’s a young man who is very focused and he understands the importance of being able to make the adjustment to the environment that he’s going

SEE PAGE 14

BRYAN Rolle

CHARLES Joseph COLLIN Storr

EMANIEL Alexandre JADEN Strachan SAHEED Sanusi

SHAUN Miller Jr KEN Mullings